The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
A compact primary where strong outcomes sit alongside a curriculum that keeps pupils curious about the world around them. The village setting matters here, pupils link learning to local life through regular visits to the church and the beach, and topic work that connects classroom ideas to real places. The academic picture is consistently strong for a school of this size, with 2024 key stage 2 results well above England averages and a FindMySchool ranking that places it comfortably within the top quarter of primaries in England.
Leadership is stable, with Miss Rebecca Porter as executive head, appointed in September 2016.
This is a school where talk is treated as learning, not a distraction. Pupils are given plenty of structured opportunities to explain ideas, listen to others, and build confidence in discussion. The tone is calm and purposeful, with routines that help younger pupils settle quickly into school life and older pupils taking increasing responsibility for how they work and behave.
The Church of England character shows up in a grounded, local way. Learning is connected to the village and its institutions, including regular visits to the church, which helps pupils understand community traditions and shared spaces without making school feel insular.
The latest Ofsted inspection (21 to 22 November 2023) judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding provision in early years.
The headline at key stage 2 is the combined reading, writing and mathematics measure. In 2024, 88% of pupils met the expected standard, compared with an England average of 62%. That gap is meaningful, it suggests most pupils leave Year 6 securely prepared for secondary content in English and mathematics.
High attainment is present as well, not just a solid middle. At the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, 29.33% reached the threshold, against an England average of 8%. For a small school cohort, that points to teaching that supports both consolidation and stretch.
Subject detail reinforces the picture. Reading averaged 108 and mathematics 106 in scaled scores. Grammar, punctuation and spelling was 109, with 100% reaching the expected standard in that area. Science was also recorded at 100% meeting the expected standard. These figures do not mean every child finds school easy, but they do show that overall attainment is high and broadly consistent across the core curriculum.
On rankings, this is where the school stands out in context. Ranked 2,173rd in England and 1st in Seaton for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), it sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England. For families comparing options locally, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool are useful for seeing how nearby schools’ results differ across reading, mathematics and the combined measure.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
88%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
The curriculum has been reshaped so that pupils build knowledge in a coherent way from Reception to Year 6, rather than repeating disconnected topics. In practice, that means subject content is sequenced to increase complexity year by year, particularly in foundation subjects where small schools can otherwise struggle to maintain progression. In history, for example, pupils learn about events that shaped people’s lives locally as well as more widely, which helps them connect abstract ideas like change and cause to places and communities they recognise.
Early reading is treated as a priority. Younger pupils engage strongly with stories and build phonics foundations that support fluency in Years 1 and 2. As pupils move up the school, reading feeds directly into writing, with explicit attention to how authors create character, setting and theme, and how that influences pupils’ own composition choices.
The main improvement point is consistency of adaptation in some subjects. Where teaching does not adjust well enough to pupils’ needs and starting points, confidence and success dip. In mathematics, the specific example raised was secure understanding of multiplication before pupils move to more demanding problems, an issue that matters because gaps at this stage tend to show up again in fractions, ratio and algebra later on.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
As a Devon primary, transition planning is shaped by local secondary options and by the county’s coordinated admissions process. Most pupils move on to local comprehensive secondaries serving the Seaton and wider Axe Valley area, with selective routes also present within reasonable reach for families considering that pathway.
What matters most at this stage is readiness, both academically and socially. With outcomes that indicate strong literacy and numeracy by Year 6, most pupils should arrive at Year 7 prepared for the step up in reading demand, extended writing, and more formal mathematics. The school’s emphasis on discussion and expressing ideas also supports the transition to subject specialist teaching, where pupils need to ask questions and explain thinking clearly.
Families thinking ahead to secondary should use Devon’s published guidance on timing and processes, then cross check individual secondary admissions policies where catchment and oversubscription priorities can differ year to year.
Reception admissions are coordinated by Devon, with clear countywide timing for the September 2026 intake. Applications open through the local authority system on 15 November 2025, with the national closing date of 15 January 2026. Offers are issued on the national offer day of 16 April 2026.
Demand, even in small numbers, is real. For the most recent set of figures available here, there were 13 applications for 7 offers at the normal round intake point, which equates to about 1.86 applications per place. The demand level is recorded as oversubscribed. That does not mean every year will look the same, but it does mean families should treat admission as competitive rather than automatic.
Because the school is part of a multi academy trust, governance sits with trustees alongside local leadership, and this can affect how admissions policies and operational decisions are implemented across schools in the group.
If you are weighing the likelihood of a place, FindMySchool’s Map Search can help you sanity check practicalities like journey length and alternative nearby schools, then you can match that against Devon’s published admissions rules for the relevant year of entry.
Applications
13
Total received
Places Offered
7
Subscription Rate
1.9x
Apps per place
A small school lives or dies on relationships. Here, routines and behaviour are consistently strong, with pupils describing bullying as rare and staff action as effective when issues arise.
Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is described as well tailored, with pupils doing well because approaches are adapted so they can learn successfully. That matters in a village primary, where families often want reassurance that a small setting will not mean limited support.
Ofsted confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Enrichment is rooted in place and experience, not just clubs on a timetable. Trips are used to deepen curriculum knowledge, such as a visit to Charmouth to learn about fossils, which turns science vocabulary into something tangible and memorable.
The school also uses local context to build citizenship and values. Older pupils have produced work on topical issues including climate change, which is a practical way to connect writing, research and discussion skills to the wider world.
For after school options, pupils report a positive range of clubs, including karate and football. These matter because they widen friendship groups across year classes in a small school, and they offer a structured way to build confidence, resilience and teamwork beyond lessons.
The school runs breakfast club and after school club provision. Specific session times and booking arrangements are not consistently published in accessible official sources, so families should check directly with the school office before relying on wraparound care for work patterns.
For travel, Beer sits in East Devon with local links to Seaton and Axminster, and the nearest mainline rail station for the area is commonly referenced as Axminster.
Competition for places. Intake numbers are small and the school is recorded as oversubscribed for the Reception entry route, so families should apply on time and include realistic alternatives in their preference list.
Inconsistent adaptation in some subjects. Teaching is not equally well adjusted to pupils’ needs in every subject area; the example highlighted was secure grasp of multiplication before moving to harder work in mathematics. This is worth probing at an open event if your child finds maths more challenging.
Small school dynamics. With around 98 pupils on roll at the time of the latest inspection, friendship groups and peer dynamics can feel more intense than in larger primaries. For many children this is a benefit; for others it can feel limiting.
Faith character. The Church of England identity is part of daily life and local connections, including regular church visits. Families should check they are comfortable with that aspect of school life.
Strong key stage 2 outcomes, a curriculum designed to build knowledge step by step, and a calm culture where pupils are expected to talk, think and contribute. The school will suit families who want a small primary with clear academic strength and a village rooted feel, and who are comfortable with a Church of England character. The main limiting factor is admission, not the education once a place is secured.
The school has strong indicators. It was graded Good overall at the most recent inspection in November 2023, with early years judged Outstanding. Key stage 2 outcomes in 2024 were well above England averages, including 88% meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Admissions are coordinated by Devon and places are allocated using the published oversubscription rules for the relevant year of entry. Catchment and priority areas can change, so use Devon’s admissions guidance for the correct intake year and check the current policy before assuming eligibility.
Yes, breakfast club and after school club provision is in place. Session times and booking arrangements vary, so it is sensible to confirm the latest details directly with the school before relying on wraparound childcare.
For Devon’s normal round Reception admissions for September 2026, applications open on 15 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026. National offer day is 16 April 2026.
In 2024, 88% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 62% across England. At the higher standard, 29.33% reached the threshold compared with 8% across England, and reading and maths scaled scores were 108 and 106 respectively.
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